Fun, quick read.

Georgina had been told to dislike the Duke of Desborough but feelings and thoughts change after a meeting at a party. This is a slow burn enemies to lovers romance. I liked the characters but at times it seem juvenile.

How Not to Hate a Duke was a first read for me by the author Jennifer Haymore. I found it a great and easy read. I found myself rooting for the hero and heroine even knowing it would be a happily ever after. Looking forward to reading more by Ms. Haymore.

How Not to Hate a Duke by Jennifer Haymore is the story of Theophilus “Theo” St. Clair and Georgiana Milford. Georgiana does not like Theo due to how awful his father was. Theo who has taken over the title of Duke of Desborough is nothing like his father which is what Georgiana is slowly learning.

The house party is an underutilized setting in regency romance, I think, because it shines here. It creates the best kind of forced proximity for leads Theo and Georgiana, forcing the to confront their issues with each other head on. She thinks he’s exactly like his despicable father, and he hates her for judging him without getting to know him. Watching them slowly realize they might be wrong about each other, and realize how good they can be for each other, is so much fun.

While I loved most of this story and loved Theo and Georgiana, both together and individually, the third act drama just felt too unnecessary. The heartache seemed so avoidable with just a brief conversation, and it really made the fun of the novel, the quick pace and charm grind to a halt. But I would still recommend this book without a doubt!

An addictive blend of enemies to lovers banter, misplaced attraction & a bit of Taming of the Shrew. These two were giving me perfect Benedict & Kate vibes. The level of contempt and competition while barely masking their traitorous attraction was delightful. These are exactly the elements that draw me into an enemies to lovers story. The angst of indecision, the inappropriate longing and the inevitable fireworks that ensue. Obviously the answer to the question, How Not to Hate the Duke was simply get to know him. One cannot hate Theo, he is kind, attentive and caring. Jennifer Haymore is firmly cementing herself in my top author list as her stories have not failed to draw me in. So many tropes to enjoy, delicious heat and angsty love. A perfect blend for a wonderful, memorable story. And I truly hope we can look forward to the second chance love match for Sebastian, as their story has lots of potential with much to overcome.

A superb enemies to lovers filled to the brim with feelings, witty banter and gorgeous lovemaking and featuring two perfectly fleshed out and very intriguing characters. Haymore is definitely a solid author who never, ever disappoints. I felt for Theo and I really admired him for his decision toward the end of the book. The character’s “angsty moment” was handled really well by the author, in my opinion. I read this captivating book almost in one sitting and can’t wait for more books like this by Haymore!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Georgiana Milford is glad that the Season nearly over because she is bored and exhausted. Men only seem to be interested in her inheritance.

Theophilus (Theo) St. Clair, the seventh Duke of Desborough, is working hard to live down his father’s terrible reputation. He owns Clairwood Park and is a neighbor to the Milfords who despise him for his father’s past actions. Theo is very ashamed of his father and is working hard to change and correct the things the man did wrong. So, Georgiana has ben taught that Theo is the same as his father.

When, unbeknownst to one another, they are both invited to a house party by the Merricks at Elder Abbey, they are surprised when they meet up. Both consider leaving but decide to stay yet avoid one another. Of course, that doesn’t happen as they are thrown together in some of the entertainment planned. When they begin to talk, they open up to one another about the past between their families.

This is a good story of how previous impressions aren’t always correct. Theo shows the hard work he is willing to do to try and make up for his father’s sins. Getting to know him, Georgiana realizes how her father has fabricated the truth about Theo himself and allows herself to open up to the possibility of love with someone who cares for her and not her fortune. The house party was certainly different from others I have read about. I found some of the silly games to be rather juvenile. But the book is an intriguing read and I’m sure readers will enjoy it.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was the first time I have read a book by this author and I found it to be a great read. The writing style, plot and depth of detail are things I love about this story.
The main characters, Georgiana Milford and Theo, the Duke of Desborough are both lovely to read about.
Georgiana and Theo’s families have been at war with each other for decades, well their fathers have been but Theo is the new Duke and desperately want to show that he is nothing like his evil father was but the reputation of his father is ingrained in everyone who knew him so no one trusts Theo to be any different from his father. He has been away from his family estate for years due to his relationship with his father and he’s found coming home to take over the duties of a duke harder than expected. Trying to right the wrongs of his father is proving difficult.
Georgiana has grown up being told how awful their neighbours (the Duke of Desborough) were and to avoid them at all costs. She is independent and has her own interests and income working with her father.
Theo and Georgiana do meet briefly in a park where Theo gallantly comes to her assistance when she rips her dress but she is horrible to him and it’s only due to her friend Charlotte (who is friends with both of them) that she accepts his help. They meet again at a house party where Georgiana is the guest of Charlotte and her husband but neither knew the other was going to be there and from their first meeting, there is angry, hot chemistry between them. Theo is attracted to Georgiana from afar but although she thinks he’s a handsome man, his family reputation means she feels nothing but contempt for him. Throughout the following days fate seems to want to intervene and the two are brought together in events at the party and even though there are some barbed jibes between them Georgiana starts to realise that Theo might not the vile man her father makes out he is. There are many revelations made to each other and the couple become closer. A surprise visit from her parents means the couple have to quickly assess their relationship and decide where their future lies. Shockingly revelations come out from the past, leaving Theo to try to find a way to prove that he is not the man his father was.
It was a very entertaining read including open door steamy scenes of the couple and I’m looking forward to reading more from her in the future.
I received a special copy of this book. I’m voluntarily leaving this review. All views and opinions are my own.

Enemies to Lovers Romance

Georgina had been brought up to avoid the Duke of Desborough but when they were both thrown together at a party suddenly dislike turned to excitement and passion.

Theo although attracted to her since he first met her, couldn’t have ever imagined them being together, there were too many bad feeling between the families but he wanted his own HEA and Georgina was the one for him.

A wonderful slow build to love, how misunderstandings are brought to light and how this particular Duke was determined to be the best he could to claim the one woman he loved above everything else and grab the HEA they both deserved.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a pretty good read by one of my favorite authors. Ms Haymore writes a tale of enemies to lovers with a bit of tension, passion and mystery. I for one thought the main characters were fully developed with thoughts and feelings of their own. It had my at first chapter and never let go.
Georgiana Milford is a rich woman who is tired of all the suitors that seem to look at her with dollar signs blazing in their eyes. She is invited to a house party when she finds out Theo St. Clair, the Duke of Desborough will be attending too! He is her neighbor at home and her parents always said mean things about the previous duke which is an understatement. Now that Theo has the title, she will determine her own thinking about him.
There is also Theo being the brunt of not so nice folks who still see him in the role of Duke of Despots. Which is not true, because he is trying to be a better person to those around him like his tenants etc.
When Theo and Georgiana meet the sparks fly and they become close. There is a sexual tension that resonates to a hot level. You can feel it when they are together. A happy ever after is the answer and love is the key.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

How (Not) to Hate a Duke by Jennifer Haymore is a tale of tension, passion, and a dash of intrigue as it follows Georgiana and Theo on their journey from avoidance to falling in love, despite the animosity between their families.

Georgiana Milford, a rich heiresses, wants nothing to do with the many the fortune hunting men of the ton. Needing a reprieve from London she goes to a two week house party only to come face-to-face with the man who is her family’s mortal enemy: the horrible Duke of Despots. No matter how hard she tries, Georgiana is unable to escape him. However, she starts to see that Theo is not the blackguard her father painted him to be.

Theophilus “Theo” St. Clair, the seventh Duke of Desborough, spent the majority of his life avoiding his father, and now that he has taken over the dukedom he wants to prove to everyone that he is nothing like his father; except, his neighbor prevents his every attempt. Discouraged, Theo agrees to attend a country party only to find the youngest Milford daughter in attendance. He cannot seem to avoid the shrew. As the two are forced into each other’s company during the house party Theo discovers another side of Georgiana. Soon their stinging barbs turn into something more scintillating as they find they can’t keep their hands and mouths to themselves. Theo wonders if he will ever be able to right the wrongs his late father committed in order to have a relationship with Georgiana.

Ms. Haymore wrote an enemies-to-lovers story that seamlessly wove together love, conflict, and a touch of spice. She provided a tale filled with wonderful characters, misconceptions, great secondary characters, steamy love scenes, heartbreaking revelations, painful choices, true love, and finally a hard-earned HEA complete with an epilogue. Although this is touted as a standalone title, it is worth mentioning that it features characters from another standalone by Ms. Haymore, Earls Rush In.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

This is a historical romance that can be read as a stand alone story, but has characters in it from a previous Haymore book; Earl's Rush In; namely the two best friends of the main characters. Unfortunately I did not read that book yet, but did not feel I was missing anything, not having read it.

This is an enemies to lovers historical romance. Georgianna Milford is a much sought after debutante who, while she is beautiful and intelligent, knows her popularity is because of her great wealth as an heiress. She is not of the aristocracy, but the daughter of a hard working man who built his own fortune through mills. She is proud to work beside him with her keen sense of fashion, and weary of the marriage mart, knowing many men, titled or otherwise, are seeking her hand and heart as a way to her wealth. She and her family have a strong sense of community and family. Unlike the Milford's neighbour, the Duke of Desborough, also known as the Duke of Despots. The Milfords have had a long standing enmity and feud with the Duke. He has neglected his estates and people terribly, spending his wealth on his own pleasures while being a miser about his dukedom. The Milfords have had to step in to help those who suffered from his lack of care, and have vigorously spoken out warning others against the Duke, his rakish ways, and his mismanagement for years. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Mr. and Mrs. Milford hate him, and Georgianna carries on their feelings about the Duke.

Unfortunately, their feelings, and the rest of the community's feelings about the old Duke have carried on past his death, to stain the reputation of his heir, Theo St. Claire, his son. Theo is nothing like his father, despises everything the old Duke did and stood for, and is trying to correct the wrongs of the past. Except he faces a terrible uphill battle, stymied by distrust and dislike from the community, and the fact that many, especially the Milfords, assuming he is like his father, act against him.

Feeling down and defeated, he is persuaded by his friend to escape his issues by attending a house party for a couple of weeks. What he does not realize is that Georgianna, the daughter of one of his greatest detractors, who hates him just as much as her father does, is also attending, at the behest of her best friend as well.

Of course they are forced into each other's presence during said house party, and while they begin as hostile enemies, they start to spend time and learn more about each other. Theo cannot help but be attracted to the vibrant, intelligent, caring Georgianna, and she cannot help but start to see past Theo's cold facade, and realize that he is nothing like his father and nothing like what her family has said he is. Of course they start to fall for each other. Unfortunately, as they realize they want to be together, this becomes a bit of Romeo and Juliet scenario, as the Milford's, not trusting Theo and the St. Claire's because of past events, are appalled and greatly oppose their relationship
Georgianna is torn between being with Theo and her family's wishes, and further conflicted when she is made aware of other issues including something involving Theo's brother and her own family that Georgianna was not aware about. Theo, thinking he has not yet earned the right to Georgianna's love and not wanting to force her to choose between him and her family, lets her go, and sets out to prove himself to be worthy to her, the Milfords, and the rest of their community, in the hopes of earning back her love.

Sweet, sexy, romantic enemies to lovers romance. I quite enjoyed it, and want to read Earl's Rush In to find out their friends romantic story, and would love to see a separate story about Georgianna's sister and Theo's brother, and what appears to be their tragic past and possible second chance.

4 stars out of 5

Georgiana Milford may be a wealthy heiress without title. It’s vexing enough to be courted by every fortune-hunting noble during the Season. Because during a merry two-week party at a lord’s country home, she’s forced to endure her father’s greatest enemy and the most wretched duke in all of England: the Duke of Despots. Theo St. Clair has hardly been the Seventh Duke of Desborough long enough to straighten his cravat, yet the ton are already nipping at his bootstraps. Starting with the Milford family who are convinced he’s exactly like his father.
A well written book, which I struggled with at the beginning as I disliked both Theo & Georgianna but I stuck with it & I’m glad I did as I gradually came to like the couple. I loved the verbal banter – enemies to lovers often has the best banter. I also loved the chemistry between them & how it became hotter & hotter. A very well written romance which I thoroughly enjoyed once I got into the story
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Georgiana is a wealthy heiress who is just done with all the suitors who want to be with her. Theo is newly the 7th Duke of Desborough dubbed the "Duke of Despots" (inherited by his late father) but he’s trying to change his image around. While at a 2 week party at a Lord’s country’s estate, they both end up meeting but their families are also feuding. This sadly didn’t live up to my expectations. The characters especially Georgiana and the way she childishly reacted with Theo. I just weren’t liking it much, they just didn’t fit well for me. I had no idea this story stemmed from Earls Rush In. I still plan on reading more of Jennifer’s books though.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review

Allow me to share this laughable moment in the book where Georgiana comes across Theo reading Romeo and Juliet as he is thinking he is glad he was not reading The Taming of the Shrew when she asks what he is reading. Both could be a brief description of their relationship. Family enmity, female know it all, etc. Of course, this is before they have become friends at the house party. This is one of those books with feel good opportunities where both protagonists reflect and make changes in their thoughts of the other and make changes to their own lives once they see their thinking and actions were wrong.

Not only does the change in Georgiana and Theo help them, they are able to help their family and others around them see the good in the other. Jennifer Haymore helps these two to learn from previous mistakes and find a beautiful HEA!

Acrimony between two families spices up the burgeoning relationship of Theo the Duke and Georgiana.
Theo’s father was a horrible man to his family and tenants but Theo must try to overcome his past. Georgiana and her family despise the Duke and his ways until she realizes Theo is trying to make amends for his father.
Even as they are learning to trust each and begin to fall in love, the baggage of the past and trials threaten to overcome their future.
Interesting story with much interest in cheering for the characters are successful even after setbacks.

He's not his father...

Somehow, Theo wants everyone to know he's not his father, without realy making any effort to prove he's not like his father. As Theo has spent his entire life running away from his father, home and dukedom, nobody really knows him (except a few dudes) and he really fails to make an effort for people and the neighborhood to know him. That's all on him.

I liked Miss Georgiana Milford. She's an extremely wealthy heiress but a miss. Her family has had to bail out Theo's tennants from mistreatment from his father. She is careful to avoid fortune hunters and agreed to a two week house party also attened by Theo.

A fun enemies to lovers, pretty slow burning, house party trope.
4.5

It took me a little while to warm up to Georgiana but I think her thoughts and actions were dictated by only one side of a disagreement. The more I read the more I liked her and Theo in this enemies-to-overs story. They were both bull-headed but also felt a strong attraction. I loved the witty banter and snarky comments between these two. I did find Georgiana’s upset with Theo to be a little out of character after all they went thought and, fortunately, she realized that she thought wrong and, whew, everything worked out in the end. One last note, I thought Theo was so yummy.

How (Not) to Hate a Duke

Georgiana Milford is a wealthy heiress without a title. She is well aware that because of this she is highly sought after for her money. She manages to stay clear of being compromised by these men. But she is polite when the situation calls for it.

Theo St. Clair is the seventh Duke of Desborough, also known as his father before him the Duke of Despots. The horrible title was accurate for his father, but nothing could be farther from the truth regarding Theo. When Georgiana meets her family's sworn enemy, she sees what she has been told to expect. Theo is very good at hiding his feelings, so he doesn't let on when her barbs strike a nerve.

Georgiana sees her friend Charlotte and they begin to chat about a house party Charlotte and her husband have been invited to attend. She invites Georgiana to join them at the two-week event. She gets permission from her parents to attend after they scour the guest list to be sure no one unworthy will be attending.

Unbeknownst to Georgiana, Charlotte's husband has also invited Theo to come to the house party as well. Once they settle themselves after arriving, they meet, and both are not pleased and consider leaving. But each of them would prefer to stay and enjoy the weekend and try to stay away from each other. As the week's events unfold, they are thrown together and are soon drawn to each other. Besides the danger of being ruined, a family secret is about to be revealed and will threaten their future happiness together.

This was a fun and steamy romance. Georgiana comes off as a touch arrogant in her dealings with Theo until she gets to know the real person not the despot her family has ranted and raved about. I think we finally see who she really is once she lets her guard down and sees Theo for the man he is and strives to be.

I enjoy the enemies-to-friends-to-lovers storylines. This one is no exception, it was done to perfection. I kept waiting for Hawkins to do something dastardly. But Jennifer Haymore new best and took this story into a direction I did not see coming. The ending was perfectly suited for these characters with just enough steamy scenes to feel the love they have for one another.

I think the title should be how to love a dastardly duke who makes a reader’s mouth water.
Theo hadn’t been able to distance himself from his father’s horrible reputation but suddenly it becomes important when gorgeous Georgina appears on his radar.
I love that he fell first.
The steamy scenes are intensely sensual and are vividly described.
I snickered when they were swapping names for male body parts.
It’s also heart stopping romantic and made me feel all sappy inside.
I’ll take a duke 😁